Bay Area Inspired

Directed by
Kent Nicholson

Written by
James D Sasser &
​Charles Vincent Burwell

​Inspired by the true story of the famous 1976 “Judgment of Paris,” the musical follows one of the winning Napa wineries,    Chateau Montelena, and the relationship between owner Jim Barrett and his son Bo. When English sommelier Steven Spurrier shows up in Napa looking for contenders for his “friendly and impartial competition” between French and American wines to be held in Paris, Barrett is skeptical. But at the urging of his son and the community, his Chardonnay is included, and history is made.

Bottle Shock, the Musical is based on the 2008 film, with story originally by Ross Schwartz & Lannette Pabon and Jody Savin & Randall Miller, screenplay by Jody Savin & Randall Miller and Ross Schwartz.

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About the Authors

Burwell & Sasser's musicals include   CUBAMOR,   a festival selection for the Village Theatre, NAMT, and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. 

They are inaugural Uncharted Artists at Ars Nova in NY where Bottle Shock was first developed. Their songs have been heard at Lincoln Center, 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova, A Little New Music in LA, and other venues between and on both coasts.

 James grew up in Napa, and has been involved for two decades in dozens of new musical works as an actor, writer and producer on Broadway and internationally. 

​Vince was born on the Presidio, grew up in Petaluma, and has worked all over the world as a performer, composer and musician.

James Sasser

Charles Vincent Burwell

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​About the Director

Kent Nicholson is the director of Musical Theatre at Playwrights Horizons in NY. He has worked at Seattle Rep, Berkeley Rep, South Coast Rep, Weston Playhouse, Actors Theatre Louisville, Prospect Theater and many other.
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​A long time resident of the Bay Area, he was also the founding director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s New Works Festival.

Kent Nicholson